NORWAY SPRUCE 419 



It is rather susceptible to late spring frosts ; and is very 

 liable to be thrown by the wind. 



Cultivation, etc. It is a thickly foliaged tree. It is very 

 fibrous rooted, and will transplant easily, but it generally 

 takes a few years to become established after being planted 

 out, after which it makes a rapid height growth, and, like 

 Silver Fir, Larch, and Douglas Fir, preserves a straight 

 central stem. 



Its side branches are very persistent and are very difficult 

 to prune off naturally, so that a close canopy, when young, 

 is very essential. 



It bears a good deal of shade where the conditions for its 

 growth are really suitable ; but, generally speaking, it is a 

 very inferior shade bearer in most parts of England. 



Even on good moist soils, its utility for underplanting is 

 of doubtful value, for it transpires a very great amount of 

 water in the spring, and robs the overcrop of its due supply, 

 and hence often does more harm than good. If planted 

 under Oak, it will often cause the latter to become "stag- 

 headed." 



The best timber will be grown, if it be planted pure in 

 even-aged high forest. Mixtures, except by groups or patches, 

 are very difficult to arrange. 



Norway Spruce and Weymouth Pine should give good 

 results ; but, if the soil be suitable for Weymouth Pine, it 

 will not usually be profitable to plant Spruce. 



Leaving out of consideration the advisability of the 

 growth of trees from home-grown seed, and also the expense 

 of protection against rabbits, Spruce may be grown under the 

 selection system ; though the quality of the timber will not 

 be very good. 



And it may also be grown under the group system ; 

 but the groups must be small, as the tree is not storm- 

 proof. 



All thinnings must be very slight until the principal height 

 growth has been attained. 



Rotation. The best rotation on average land is from 75 

 to 85 years. 



